Multiple approach time domain spacing aid display system and related techniques

Abstract

A method for displaying a separation time interval of at least one of a plurality of objects approaching a reference includes estimating a transit time of the at least one of the plurality of objects assigned to a corresponding first path to the reference, determining the separation time interval for the at least one object, and forming a time line axis. The method further includes displaying a representation of the at least one object aligned relative to the time line axis for indicating the estimated transit time, and displaying the separation time interval.

1. A method for displaying a separation time interval of at least one of a plurality of objects approaching a reference comprising:
 estimating a transit time of the at least one of the plurality of objects assigned to a corresponding first path to the reference;  
 determining the separation time interval for the at least one object;  
 displaying a time line axis which includes the estimated transit time of the at least one of the plurality of objects;  
 displaying a representation of the at least one object aligned relative to the time line axis for indicating the estimated transit time; and  
 displaying the separation time interval.  
 
   
   
     2. The method of  claim 1  further comprising displaying a representation of the corresponding first path. 
   
   
     3. The method of  claim 1  wherein indicating the estimated transit time further comprises displaying a time marker. 
   
   
     4. The method of  claim 1  wherein displaying the separation time interval further comprises displaying a graphical object having a length parallel to the time line axis for indicating the time interval. 
   
   
     5. The method of  claim 4  wherein the graphical object comprises a flight symbol. 
   
   
     6. The method of  claim 5  wherein the graphical object comprises displaying a separation box. 
   
   
     7. The method of  claim 5  wherein the flight symbol comprises a separation box having a dimension in the direction of the time line axis proportional to sum of a required leading separation time interval and a required trailing separation time interval. 
   
   
     8. The method of  claim 1  wherein determining a separation time interval for the at least one object comprises:
 determining a leading separation time interval for the at least one object; and  
 determining a trailing separation time interval for the at least one object.  
 
   
   
     9. The method of  claim 8  further comprising displaying an estimated leading error indication disposed adjacent to the representation of the leading separation time interval. 
   
   
     10. The method of  claim 8  further comprising displaying an estimated trailing transit time error disposed adjacent to the representation of the trailing separation time interval. 
   
   
     11. The method of  claim 8  wherein displaying the separation time interval further comprises displaying a separation box including the leading separation time interval and the trailing separation time interval. 
   
   
     12. The method of  claim 11  further comprising displaying an aircraft identification of the at least one object disposed on the separation box. 
   
   
     13. The method of  claim 1  wherein estimating the at least one object transit time further comprises computing the time to transit a corresponding first predicted path to the reference using the velocity of the at least one object on a nominal path. 
   
   
     14. The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 comparing a time range formed by the separation time interval aligned to the transit time of the at least one object with a time range formed by the separation time interval aligned to the transit time of at least one second different one of the plurality of objects;  
 determining an expected separation violation between the at least one object and the at least one second different object in response to determining an overlap in time between the time range of the at least one object and the time range of the at least one second different object; and  
 displaying the indication of the expected separation violation.  
 
   
   
     15. The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 comparing a spatial location of the at least one object with a spatial location of a second different one of the plurality of objects;  
 determining an overtake situation between the at least one object and the at least one second different object in response to determining that the transit time of the at least one object is less than the transit time of the at least one second different object, and that the at least one object is located further in distance from the reference as measured along a predicted path of the object that the at least one second different object; and  
 displaying an indication of the overtake situation.  
 
   
   
     16. The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 determining an error range for each of the plurality of objects including at least one of: 
 a leading error range of the estimated transit time; and  
 a trailing error range of the estimated transit time.  
 
 
   
   
     17. The method of  claim 16  wherein determining the error range for each object comprises:
 determining an object classification;  
 retrieving previous transit times determined for objects having a related classification; and  
 computing a mathematical measure of the error range in previous estimated transit times.  
 
   
   
     18. The method of  claim 16  wherein determining the error range for each object comprises:
 providing a mathematical model for a distribution of the actual transit time; and  
 computing an expected variance corresponding to a mathematical measure of confidence for the estimated transit time.  
 
   
   
     19. The method of  claim 16  further comprising displaying for each of the plurality of objects at least one of:
 an indication of the leading error range of the estimated transit time; and  
 an indication of the trailing error range of the estimated transit time.  
 
   
   
     20. The method of  claim 16  further comprising:
 forming a first time range from the separation time interval and the at least one error range of the at least one object aligned to the transit time of the at least one object;  
 forming a second time range by using the transit time, separation time interval, at least one error ranges of the at least one second different one of the plurality of objects;  
 comparing the first and second time ranges;  
 determining a likely separation violation between the at least one object and the at least one second different object in response to determining an overlap between the first time range and the second time range; and  
 displaying an indication of the likely separation violation.  
 
   
   
     21. The method of  claim 20  wherein displaying the indication of the likely violation comprises displaying a symbol having a size proportional to an overlap of first and second time ranges. 
   
   
     22. The method of  claim 20  wherein the second different object is assigned to a corresponding second different path to the reference and displaying an indication of the likely separation violation comprises displaying a ghost image corresponding to the second different object, aligned relative to the time line axis for indicating the estimated second transit time disposed proximate to the representation of the at least one object. 
   
   
     23. The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 estimating a second transit time of at least one second different one of the plurality of objects assigned to a corresponding second different path to the reference; and  
 displaying a ghost image corresponding to the second different object, aligned relative to the time line axis for indicating the estimated second transit time disposed proximate to the representation of the at least one object.  
 
   
   
     24. The method of  claim 23  further comprising displaying a representation of the first path wherein the ghost image and the representation of the first object are displayed proximate a representation of the corresponding first path. 
   
   
     25. The method of  claim 24  wherein the representation of the corresponding first path comprises a line substantially parallel to the time line axis and adjacent indicia of the assigned path. 
   
   
     26. The method of  claim 23  further comprising displaying an indication of an expected separation violation between the first object and the at least one second different object. 
   
   
     27. The method of  claim 23  further comprising displaying an indication of a likely separation violation between the first object and the at least one second different object. 
   
   
     28. The method of  claim 1  wherein displaying the representation of the at least one object further comprises determining whether the at least one object is a candidate to arrive at the reference. 
   
   
     29. The method of  claim 28  wherein determining that the object is a candidate to arrive at the reference comprises determining if the flight can reach the reference point by a plurality of standard maneuvers that observe predetermined constraints. 
   
   
     30. The method of  claim 1  further comprising displaying a representation of at least one second different object wherein the second different object is assigned to the corresponding first path to the reference. 
   
   
     31. The method of  claim 1  further comprising displaying an aircraft identification disposed on the representation of a first object. 
   
   
     32. The method of  claim 1  further comprising displaying a timing mark corresponding to a point on the first axis representing the estimated first object transit time. 
   
   
     33. The method of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of object comprises a plurality of flight objects. 
   
   
     34. The method of  claim 1  wherein the time line axis, the representation of the at least one object, and the separation time interval are displayed on a situation display. 
   
   
     35. A multiple approach time domain spacing aid display system comprising:
 an object location and trajectory information interface;  
 a transit time estimator coupled to said object location and trajectory information interface; and  
 a situation display coupled to said transit time estimator for displaying an estimated transit time within a terminal air space.  
 
   
   
     36. The system of  claim 35  further comprising a transit time variance processor coupled to said situation display and said object location and trajectory information interface. 
   
   
     37. The system of  claim 35  wherein said situation display comprises:
 an operator interface;  
 a display processor adapted to receive commands from said operator interface adapted to provide output signals for displaying an estimated transit time, and a separation time interval; and  
 a display adapted to receive the output signals from said display processor.  
 
   
   
     38. The system of  claim 37  wherein the display processor is further adapted to provide signals to said display for displaying ghost images including indications of a separation time conflict. 
   
   
     39. The system of  claim 35  further comprising an overtake scenario processor and wherein the display processor is further adapted to provide signals to said display for indications of an overtake scenarios.